Global shipments of edge AI smartwatches surged 70% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period last year, with Apple commanding 90% of the market, according to global market research firm Counterpoint Research on the 9th. The share of edge AI products within the overall smartwatch market expanded to 25%, and Counterpoint Research forecasts this proportion will reach approximately 32% this year. The primary driver is the advancement of health monitoring capabilities, as edge AI smartwatches analyze biometric data such as heart rate, sleep patterns, and body temperature in real time directly on the device. Apple seized the early lead in 2023 by unveiling its 'S9' chip. Huawei introduced its self-developed 'Kirin W80' chip and the AI assistant 'Celia' last year, while Qualcomm launched the 'Snapdragon Wear Elite' this year. In the first quarter of this year, the penetration rate of blood pressure monitoring more than doubled from 11% a year earlier to 23%, sleep apnea detection expanded nearly threefold from 5% to 18%, and electrocardiogram (ECG) functionality adoption rose from 31% to 34%.